Bill > S720

This bill aims to streamline housing permitting by introducing the concept of a "Housing Priority Zone," which is defined as a privately or publicly owned property, or a zoning district, designated for housing development or redevelopment that meets specific criteria: it must exceed the prior allowable unit density by at least 50 percent, have a lot size no greater than half an acre, include a minimum of 40% of its units as affordable housing (as defined by Chapter 40R), and may utilize zoning methods like cluster development or open space residential design, all while being designated a priority development site by the relevant board in consultation with the Department of Housing and Community Development. Furthermore, the bill proposes that for the purpose of determining consistency with "consistent with local needs" (a term used in Chapter 40B, which relates to affordable housing development), a housing unit built in a Housing Priority Zone will be credited at 1.75 units upon receiving a building permit. It also mandates that individuals or families residing in affordable housing within these zones must report to the local housing office every three years to certify they still meet the income limits for affordable housing, with this responsibility transferring to new owners if the property is sold. Finally, the bill states that real estate taxes for properties designated as priority development sites will be assessed on a pro rata basis from the date of the occupancy permit to the end of the fiscal year.